Review: Room (2016)

If you read my review for In the heart of the sea you will know that I was desperate to see Room so I was glad when I found some free time with my Dad and realised it was still on at the cinema. Why this took me so long to watch when it was one of my most anticipated Oscars movies I'll never know! I'm glad I finally got round to it, though.

Ma (Brie Larson) as she is known for the first half of the film had been trapped in a 10 x 10 room for 7 years and for the previous 5 has been making it a home for her young son, Jack (Jacob Tremblay).  He lovingly calls his home 'room' and having not known any other life, Ma makes his life exciting with games and stories.  It becomes quickly clear that she has been unwillingly kept prisoner by the man they call 'Old Nick' (Sean Bridgers).  Following Jacks 5th Birthday, and a night and day without power or heat, Joy realises she needs to make a change and plans their escape....

I found this quite difficult to watch, particularly having read so many similar stories in the news, to see it from the other side was nothing short of heartbreaking.  Larson's acting skills as a frustrated mother trying to hide every emotion from her son and still give him the life he deserves it are fantastic.  You can see every emotion on her face and you can actually feel her frustration as she tries to explain to Jack things that he doesn't understand having never been out in the real world.

 

It's no secret that Room was going to be a tough one to watch, and pull on your heart strings. What I wasn't expecting was to ugly cry throughout the entire movie! Thank the heavens for dark rooms...no, wait, now is not the time to make jokes about rooms.

Thankfully I had about a ten minute break between sobs when Jack made his escape attempt. My eyes were still watering, but that's because I now hold the world record for holding my breath! Those were such tense moments, I was genuinely clenching my entire body.

Jacob Tremblay absolutely blew me away, his confusion at being told things of the outside world and his childlike innocence is played out perfectly.  How someone so young can act so well really does amaze me!  The premise of this movies is truly terrifying, having seen so many similar stories in the news, this actually happens to real people.  What stops the movie becoming really dark is the narration from Jack, his perspective on the whole situation is so innocent and sweet.  He doesn't see Room as a prison, he sees it as an adventure and he makes friends with items in room, sink, toilet, rug, wardrobe, its really heartwarming to hear his sweet voice in such a dismal setting. Little Jacob is such a sweetheart! I love that kid!

I desperately want to read the book now and I half wish I could have read it beforehand but I never know which is the best order to do it in to not ruin one or the other. 

Depending on which way the Academy decide to take the Best Picture this year,  I think this has a real shot at it. Make your mind up woman, I thought you were #TeamRevenant! No I'm #TeamLeo keep up!!!

Review: Fargo (1996)

Movie morning.

As me and Allie appear to be too old to watch two movies in a row (but a movie and an episode of Sherlock is fine!) We decided to watch Fargo this morning instead of last night. Who doesn't want to watch an episode of Sherlock before bed? Sorry, let's talk Fargo...

This film was always going to be on our radar at some point because it's part of IMDB's Top 250 Films, but as you probably already know, a new TV Show based on this has just started on Channel 4 in the UK, starring Martin Freeman. I've got the first episode recorded, but I wanted to watch the film first so I had an idea of the story.  I haven't seen any of the series yet (although from the trailer I'm not sure about Martin Freeman's accent!) but I intend to, once I have finished the other 6 million series I'm currently attempting to watch! It's crazy! I'm timehopping through posts now I know but my jaw hit the floor! I'm not quite over it yet...

 

Fargo tells the story of Jerry Lundegaard, a simple car salesman who has found himself dangerously in debt. His father in law is a bit of a douche but he's also incredibly wealthy, so Jerry hires a couple of co-worker's friends to kidnap his wife and demand a ransom from her father.  Actually, he hires one of his co-workers friends (Buscemi), Shep (the co-worker) doesn't know the other guy (Stormare) who turns out to be a violent psychopath!  This just adds to the chaotic nature of the film. Alright Miss Pedantic...!

 

I would really like to think that if my other half was in this situation, he would try something a little less extreme, but you've got to give the guy points for creativity here!

As with many films I watch, I struggled to follow this a little, and I'm still not 100% sure how much he was in debt and what went on before the kidnapping. Not the film's fault though! I thought the plot was brilliant and I didn't see many of the twists coming. I just found some of the characters too odd, to the point of distraction in some places. Yeah they don't cover why he is in debt or how he got to this point, but you realise as the film goes on that the debt isn't the key point of the movie, the 'kidnapping' is, so really you don't need to know anyway.

*SPOILER ALERT* This lady! The heck man! Maybe it's because I'm watching Dexter at the moment, and maybe it's the age of the film now, but where is the urgency? Where is her back up? I mean bless her at the end for catching that guy all by herself, but it was just a bit odd. That guy she meets up with, Mike? What was the actual point in him? I loved her though, she was too cool!  Pregnant sheriff solves the crime all by herself, amazing and odd enough to be part of this film.  I still don't understand the point of Mike and how he added to the film but any scene Marge was in was hilarious because of her.  (I only remember her name was Marge because they said it approximately 365 million times throughout the film!) I actually looked this up you know. You know later on, when she finds out that Mike lied about his wife/that lady and stuff? It was to make her see that you can't trust anyone, and that's why she really starts to suspect Jerry.

 

I really enjoyed this film, mostly because I found it hilarious.  The way of life was so slow and as Allie said not at all urgent, it made everything so comical.  Also, tiny parts of the film had me in stitches, for example, when Marge and Norm are in the café the volume of food she puts on her plate is unreal. 

 

Although comical, it's quite a dark movie and it provides some shocks that I personally didn't expect.  This is a one off film no other will ever be quite like it, extremely unique and very enjoyable to watch.

 

Ignore my rants though because I did enjoy this film, but I have a feeling I'll enjoy the new TV Show more. I get the feeling the series is going to drag a bit, I don't know how they are going to keep it interesting!!  We'll soon see though!